Handicapping Corner: Saturday, Jan. 23

Handicapping Corner: Saturday, Jan. 23

HorseracingFLA Staff Report

Starting today, we are giving ourselves a $1,000 imaginary stake for the Gulfstream Park championship meet that will end April 2, and a $1,000 imaginary stake for the Tampa Bay Downs meet that will end May 8.

Our fantasy bets for Saturday Jan. 23, 2016

Gulfstream Park

The ninth race is the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens, scheduled at two miles on turf for 4-year-olds and up.

We are calling this bet off if the race is taken off the turf.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Charming Kitten (1) is the obvious choice and could be even-money in the nine-horse field.

If any horse springs an upset, we think it would be the Irish-American import Roccia d’oro (2), trained by Tom Albertrani. He could do well on a course softened by yesterday’s rain.

Either St. Albans Boy (7) or Morning Calm (3) should be in the exacta if one of the above two falter.

Mucho Mas Macho (8) who might have some late run, is our longshot.

*$3 place and show on 2 $6

*$2 show on 7 $2

*$2 exacta box 1-2-7 $12

*$1 exacta part wheel

First — 1 2
Second 1 2 3 5 $6

Total — $26.00

Tampa Bay

The seventh race, scheduled post 3:20 p.m., is the $100,000 Pasco Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt for 3-year-old males

Formal Salute (4) and Jay’s Way (7) each finished within a length of unbeaten Ishaq (not running today) in the six-furlong Inaugural at Tampa Bay on Dec. 19.

Epic Journey (3) has a six-furlong allowance win at Tampa Bay in a faster time than the Inaugural.

Morning Fire (1) finished second in two sprint stakes at Parx in Philadelphia, and has had three blistering workouts at Tampa Bay. He has the rail and needs a clean break—and should get one with Daniel Centeno on board.

Hand of Power (6) is in from Kentucky for trainer Ian Wilkes and will be gaining late with Julien Leparoux on board. Awesome Slate (2) also is a threat.

Our win pick is Formal Salute, outside of other speed and with the formidable team of Kathleen O’Connell and Ronnie Allen Jr.

About The Author

Editor Jim Freer has covered horse racing for 15 years during his career as a journalist writing about business and sports in South Florida. He was previously the horse racing correspondent for the Miami Herald and the Florida correspondent for Blood-Horse. Jim contributes to other racing publications and is a regular guest on industry radio and podcast shows for WDBFradio.com and espn.com. He manages editorial content for HorseRacingFla.com.

*Saturday Nov. 3 -- the Gulfstream Park West meet, at Calder, will have the first two stakes races of its 2018 meet.

The $75,000 Cellars Chiraz is one mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies. The $75,000 Showing Up is one mile on turf for 3-year-old males.

*Saturday Nov. 10 -- Nine stakes races at GP West, all restricted to Florida-breds and all with $75,000 purses

*Saturday Nov. 24 -- opening day of 2018-2019 meet at Tampa Bay Downs

*Sunday Nov. 25 -- closing day of 2018 GP West meet

*Saturday Dec. 1 -- opening day of Gulfstream Park championship meet. The opening day card will feature the national Claiming Crown--with nine stakes races restricted to horses that during 2017 and 2018 raced at least once at or below designated claiming prices.